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With Wandy out, Thursday's starter still unknown

4/3/14: Wandy Rodriguez records five strikeouts over six innings of three-run ball in his first start of the 2014 season

By Tom Singer and Teddy Cahill
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MLB.com |

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates' spot starter in Wandy Rodriguez's spot on Thursday may not be as obvious as originally believed.

In the wake of Rodriguez going on the DL with a sore right knee on Monday, manager Clint Hurdle had implied that the choice would be either of the two long men in the bullpen, Jeanmar Gomez or Stolmy Pimentel.

"We've got a couple of different guys in-house. We'll see who lines up," Hurdle had said.

The manager corrected himself on Tuesday, explaining, "When I said 'in-house,' I didn't just mean somebody on the club now. I meant within the organization."

Apparently, the club is also considering calling up someone out of the rotation of Triple-A Indianapolis.

The leading prospect there would seem to be right-hander Brandon Cumpton, who is scheduled to start for the Indians on Wednesday. If he is pulled from that assignment, the Pirates' plans will become transparent.

Major League veteran Jeff Locke is out. He pitched for Indianapolis on Monday night.

Rodriguez's fill-in is not the only mystery surrounding the veteran lefty. The possible length of his absence is also an unknown.

While deferring to GM Neal Huntington, chiefly responsible for following up on injuries, Hurdle allowed that "knees can be different for different people."

Rodriguez had fluid drained from the knee on Monday, when he also underwent an MRI, results not yet shared.

"You can get a knee drained and have to get it drained again in two months," Hurdle said. "I know people who have had their knee drained a couple of times and had surgery in the winter. It depends on the guy. We'll just have to wait and see."